Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. and Bar group of six awarded to Sergeant P. W. Houghton, 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry, who won his first decoration for gallantry at Vimy Ridge on 9 April 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. and Second Award Bar (7043 Sjt. P. W. Houghton, 1/Can. Inf.); 1914-15 Star (7043 Pte. P. W. Houghton, 1/Can. Inf.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (7043 Sjt. P. W. Houghton, 1-Can. Inf.); Canadian Voluntary Service Medal 1939-45, no clasp; War Medal 1939-45, in silver, brightly cleaned and lacquered, nearly very fine and better (6) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Canadian Expeditonary Force 1914-1918.

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M.M. London Gazette 9 July 1917. The original recommendations states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed great courage and determination under heavy shell fire during the attack on Swischen Stellung in the evacuation of the wounded on 9 April 1917.’

Bar to M.M. London Gazette 11 February 1919.

Peter William Houghton, who was born at St. Helen’s, Lancashire, in May 1891, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Vancouver in September 1914.

Embarked for France in July 1915, where he joined the 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry, he was advanced to Corporal in November 1916 and to Sergeant in March 1917, shortly prior to his M.M.-winning exploits at Vimy Ridge. He was also mentioned in despatches (London Gazette I June 1917 refers).

Having then been wounded in the head on 4 September 1918, and evacuated to the U.K. via No. 22 General Hospital at Camiers, he was awarded his second M.M. Houghton was discharged back in Nova Scotia in April 1919; sold with copied service record.